Honey Bee Waggling Hop Bats by Nubis Sanctum Ales

10506912_10102665616754620_3689677893754158767_oRating: 5/5

Honey Bee Waggling Hop Bats by Nubis Sanctum Ales is an 11% ABV Belgian Trippel India Pale Ale (IPA) brewed with Arizona Wild Flower Honey. Brewed at the Avila Ales Household.


Project #7 was my take on the famous hoppy Belgian Tripel IPA, La Chouffe Houblon Dobblen IPA tripple but my take was using a variety of other ingredients such as Columbus and Amarillo hops and using Arizona Wild Flower Honey. Yes, the ABV does have a story to tell as my original gravity was supposed to keep things near the 9ish% ABV but instead went to the 11% ABV range. Literally a Triple IPA that is also a Belgian Tripple. What a Trip? Especially considering the name. Waggling and Dancing, don’t fall and “trip”now! Cheers!

This brew was born on National Homebrew Day when I brewed with my friend Richard Stan Avila of Avila Ales, one of my great friends and fellow homebrewer. A great brew in a somewhat of a collaboration as great beers are made with great friends.

Phenolic notes, Belgian candy sugar, Citrus, oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, grassy, floral, piney hop notes, bubble gum hints, honey dew melon, Stone fruit apricots, peaches, strawberries, raspberry hints, kiwi hints, marzipan bready notes, rich honey, bananas, brown sugar and clove spices.

Rich bananas, clove spices, Citrus, oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, grassy, piney hop notes, honey, dulce de leche caramel, phenolic notes, vanilla, Belgian Candy sugar, dark fruit plums, grapes, peppercorn, tangerine candy, Stone fruit apricots, peaches, strawberries, raspberry hints, kiwi hints, marzipan bready notes, dragon fruit hints, passion fruit, rye bread, plantains, pineapple hints, lemon hints, bubble gum, flan and sweetened condensed milk hints.

Lots of sweet caramel, tropical fruit hints, Belgian candy sugar, bananas
Slight booziness in the taste which is covered by honey and malt as it warms up, Golden Honey Amber, light to medium body, smooth crisp, syrup and creamy mouthfeel and a moderate to sipping drinkability.

I’m well damn impressed. The fact is, I did not get the carbonation right (Still learning 😦 ) But… the beer itself was well damn amazing. The beer has lots of great flavors reminding me of the La Chouffee Dobblen IPA Tripel but taking it a step further into like a Honey and Barleywinesque territory. The fact that I used Amarillo hops most likely makes the difference in the enhanced excotic fruitiness but either way, this beer is ridiculously delicious and is something I would love to make again.

Anime Corner:
Morrigan Aensland and Q-Bee from Darkstalkers/Vampire Savior were used in this pairing because I wanted to show how the fusion of the honey and hops combine by doing a dance mainly done by bees called waggling. Do bats do the “waggle” too? Maybe, maybe not but both bees and bats are in your face enemies in some 2-D platform games that become annoying. The fact that I found this pic thought was a major tribute to some of my favorite characters to the Darkstalker series but also one of the greatest compliments to the Belgian IPA as Morrigan represents the dark fruits and hoppy goodness while combining with the floral rich honey and sweetened condensed milk and citrus provided by Q-Bee all fusing in a beer that is probably way better than the original Dobblen Trippel IPA from La Chouffe. Although I can only hope.


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